Exploratories

Exploratory Tasks (Collaborative) + Critical Blog Posts (Individual)
"Exploratories" are one of two "weekly" assignment forms to occur six times over the semester, and I tend to think of them as valuable intellectual work. At key points throughout the semester, we will undertake short, innovative reading or research tasks (in most cases involving digital tools), usually done collaboratively and accompanied by a critical blog post. Our goal with these assignments will be to build, critique, and explore—in other words, to play. Our goal with the blog posts will be to reflect on that play and how it illuminates, complicates, addresses, or extends the readings for the previous or coming weeks, taking up key concepts, issues, conflicts, or terms. I will assign exploratory tasks well ahead of when they are due. Generally speaking, critical blog posts are somewhat formal and should be ~3-4 well developed paragraphs in length (so, a couple of screens' worth), but they can go longer as needed, and I encourage you to write enough. Because the blog is somewhat performative, I'll ask you to title your posts creatively (or insightfully), and I will ask you to define terms and unpack assumptions for us, using your posts as occasions to teach. Finally, I expect you to take one another seriously and to treat each other with respect, regardless of the possible level of disagreement. In a course like this, differing opinions will emerge; please don't shy away from those levels of disagreement during exploratories or on the blog.

Exploratory #1: Schematizing "Kairos" as Universe
Exploratory #2: Inventing a Tool for Post/Process Study
Exploratory #3: Creating a Literacy Network